Respiratory complaints caused by infection are also common, as are gastric problems, because trainers push carbohydrate down their camels in an attempt to give them more energy to race, leading to acidosis.

On your marks

Dr Akbar is also on the rota of vets who attend camel race meetings to carry out drug testing.

"Although the use of performance enhancing drugs in camels is rare, testing is the only means to keep it this way," he says.

KNOW YOUR RACE CAMEL

Speed: 40km/hour

Weight: 450kg

Pregnancy: 12 months

Life expectancy: 30-50 years

Dubai's camel race track is approximately 50km (30 miles) out of the city, surrounded by rolling dunes.

Camel racing has always been a Bedouin pastime, but over the last 30 years or so it has become a hugely popular event.

A new television station, Dubai Racing Channel, dedicated to camel, horse and auto racing, has recently started broadcasting.

"Camel racing is not only a sport; it is something that we have grown up," says Abdul-Rahman Amin, the channel commentator.

"Before, we used it to celebrate at weddings or if we had good news. Now camel racing is similar to horse racing. There are strict rules and regulations".

Races are categorised into age, sex and distance. Females run faster than males, and at the optimum age of five years, they can run 8km (5 miles) the longest track distance, in 12 and a half minutes - a speed of 40 km/h (25 mph).

Race camels retire at 11 years old and then good performing females are used for breeding. Careful planning goes into choosing a mate to produce the best possible racer.

Robotic riders

Unlike horse racing, there is no betting and also no rider.

To keep the camels sprinting, an electronic robot is attached to their hump wielding a rotating stick, and owners drive alongside in 4x4s hitting their horns and shouting, leaving the stands empty.

Alternative rider - high tech jockeys keep camels sprinting

The first 10 fastest camels in a race win a prize ranging from cash to cars or ornamental daggers funded by the royal family.

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